Bangkok governor candidate Sakoltee seeks to collect city tax from foreign tourists

[brian2f2f]

Only a matter of time before they come up with the idea for foriengers to pay thai income vat for the thais. Maybe be like you have to submit documents proving how much you make and the more you make the more you have to pay to cover thai income vat. 

[andyman57]

If they had brains there'd be dangerous 

[Aussieroaming]

I would happily pay a maintenance tax if Bangkok was as nice and as livable as some of those "other cities" that impose taxes. Bangkok has some fantastic parks and shopping zones but transport issues e.g old bus systems and road congestion, broken footpaths, stinking rubbish littered klongs aren't issues that tourists should be paying tax for. I live in Bangkok and I appreciate the good and the bad aspects. Build a good city with infrastructure and tourist attractions and the tourists will visit and spend their valuable money, that's better than imposing taxes or "duel pricing" strategies that tend to alienate foreigners.

[geisha]

I think that this “ canditate” wants to follow the European  rules. There is VAT and City tax , which is an occupancy tax. Not the same at all. Of course, up to now the government hasn’t brought this subject up.  With booking agencies, VAT a is often included in the rates, whereas the city tax is always added on separately on your bill. It’s usually a small amount. Just booked Rome, and it’s 6€ plus on top of price a night.

[moe666]

5 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Keep on upping the prices without any modern infrastructure and you'll soon find yourselves priced out of the market you operate in. 

The sky train and subway are not modern.

[khunjeff]

When we travel to other countries, we will have to pay city tax when staying at a hotel,” Sakoltee said. “I am considering implementing that in Bangkok.”

 

He seems to be totally unaware that in virtually all of those cities (there could be exceptions that I'm not aware of), the hotel tax applies to everyone who stays in a hotel, including citizens of those countries and residents of those cities.

 

“Besides having to pay a landing fee to the Department of Airports, those tourists pay nothing when they enter Bangkok,” Sakoltee said. 

 

...other than 7% tax on everything they use or consume, plus excise tax and customs duties on most imported products.

 

“If elected, I will be the first governor to generate revenue for Bangkok in this way,” Sakoltee added. “No one has thought of this.”

 

Do provincial and municipal authorities in Thailand even have the legal authority to levy their own taxes? I've never heard of any local tax here - everything is national.

[DezLez]

2 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

You know exactly how it would work.  These things are foreigner taxes not tourist taxes.  And, of course, Thais far wealthier than most foreigners would not have to pay...

My point exactly! 

My question was rhetorical!????

[DezLez]

16 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

Do provincial and municipal authorities in Thailand even have the legal authority to levy their own taxes? I've never heard of any local tax here - everything is national.

They can charge what they want!

Go to different "National Parks" in the same Province and see the differences in prices and ID requirements!

[RandiRona]

Please start charging Bar Tax, Eating out tax, Mall stroll Tax, Road Tax and Screw You Tax....I can 100% tell you there will still be tourists who still wont mind.

[DezLez]

20 minutes ago, moe666 said:

The sky train and subway are not modern.

What is your definition of  modern in relation to the BKK transport system?

There are parts that are under construction and not yet open! 

[Sydebolle]

Keep up the good work, you're funneling millions of dollars into the capital's coffers as there are millions of tourists here already. 
With such taxes, even more people will be coming as they all want to offload even more money. The boys down at the Tourism Authority of Thailand are getting competition; after a "landing tax" there is now this discussion over a "city tax". 

It's written in the bible "Lord, forgive 'em for they don't know what they are doing". Or is it possibly a populistic election fart - again? It worked higher up with Yingluck - until she got unseated - so why not try the same stint again on a lower level ???? 

[DezLez]

2 minutes ago, RandiRona said:

Please start charging Bar Tax, Eating out tax, Mall stroll Tax, Road Tax and Screw You Tax.

I thought they already did!

[BangkokReady]

23 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

“Besides having to pay a landing fee to the Department of Airports, those tourists pay nothing when they enter Bangkok,” Sakoltee said. 

 

...other than 7% tax on everything they use or consume, plus excise tax and customs duties on most imported products.

It's so ridiculously worded. "Those tourists pay nothing", like they aren't paying over the odds for everything, paying handsomely for every service they use, buying all sorts of souvenirs and other goods, paying prices the locals would rarely pay, and even charged extra I many places.

 

He speaks as though they are getting away with something and must be held to account. Using up all the lovely sidewalks and pristine air that should be for the sole use of good Thai people!

 

Pretty racist.

[Canuckluck]

Be honest just start a go fund me page.

[metisdead]

Posts using trolling memes have been removed.

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, Mavideol said:

hey dixx head, everybody pays taxes regardless if tourists or not and that includes local citizens

Except for hotels and restaurants, foreign tourists who leave the country within 60 days can claim a VAT refund, subject to maximum refund amounts and minimum payment for purchases and services.

Thai citizens and expat residents cannot claim VAT refunds.

A foreign tourist city tax might effectively neutralize any qualified VAT refund.

[bkk6060]

Dumb for folks to say this place does not seek or have modern infrastructure. Probably have never been here.

They have been expanding the BTS for years and continue to do so. MRT the same.  You cannot change Sukhumvit road so just avoid it.

The infrastructure in a major city like Bangkok is better them many western cities places like Los Angeles are a joke.

Edited April 29, 2022 by bkk6060

[jvs]

1 hour ago, andyman57 said:

If they had brains there'd be dangerous 

They do and they are.

[Excel]

4 hours ago, Whale said:

The sad thing is that this will probably appeal to the Thai electorate. 

Not all the Thai population have an IQ on apar with Thai politicians fortunately

[blackshadow]

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Disqualified. You don't know anything about VAT? Numskull. 

thort it was GST goverment service tax !!!!

[blackshadow]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Dead wood or drift wood?

balsa wood as in light in the head !!!!!!

[Srikcir]

Does the BMA/Governor even have authority to impose any tax outside of national taxes, particularly with respect being applicable to only a specific group of people, ie., foreign tourists?

[Straight8]

And here we have a grub!

[DezLez]

What if every city/province/airport decides to introduce their own tax on all foreign users whether visitors or residents?

Edited April 29, 2022 by DezLez

[cheapcanuck]

Xenophobia + thainess = this <deleted>

[ujayujay]

Retard????

[kingstonkid]

7 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

No modern infrastructure in Bangkok? What about the BTS and MRT lines? 

Good idea to keep the Cheap Charley's out.

The cost issue with Infrastructure is not going to be solved charging tourist a 1oo baht to stay in a hotel.  That is just a nuisance tax.

 

What they need to do is look at the taxes that people are paying for land and housing. 

They need to change the VAT so that Thais also pay a tax 1% would not kill anyone.   

They need to look at things like the BTS and do an actual REAL cost analysis.  Right now they are charging someone that takes BTS from Khu  Kot in Rangsit area the same fee as they charge someone that takes the BTS from Mor chit to any location.

Is the BTS expensive not really.

Would ridership die off if they raised the fee Not really.  

 

This is simply a wannabe that is pandering to the minority that do not like Farang and blame us for all the ills of the country.  Much like the politicians that are caving to the woke twitter world in the U.S. 

 

[natway09]

Departure tax 700 Bht

Arrival tax       300  Bht

Hotel tax (HA)   50  Bht (bum in a bed

But yes, none goes to any Cities directly. All goes to central coffers

Maybe he should be talking to them,,,,, Oh, he wants to be them,, sorry

[runamok27]

12 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Keep on upping the prices without any modern infrastructure and you'll soon find yourselves priced out of the market you operate in. 

They are already priced way out of the market they operate in. There are many, many places nicer and just as beautiful that are either the same price to much cheaper to visit and enjoy. Thailands natural beauty has been nearly completely destroyed, so I am not sure what there is to see anymore.

[the green light]

this guys is trying to develop a two tier pricing on hotels and other services.

one price for the Thai people and another for the farangs.

 

you do not generate revenues by biting the hand that feed you.